A simple method for the measurement of human gastric emptying: standardization of operative parameters.

The radioisotopic techniques used for the measurement of gastric emptying in man require complex and expensive scintiscanners or gamma-cameras. In this investigation, a simple method utilizing a single and inexpensive detector was evaluated; in addition, the suitability of 99Tcm sulphur colloid as a label for solid meals was assessed. The procedure was found to be accurate and its reproducibility high. The calculated absorbed dose to the gut was very low. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the radiocolloid used is a food non adsorbable marker for determining gastric emptying of solids. In a group of 50 healthy volunteers the emptying half-time (t1/2) ranged between 40 and 110 min, with a mean of 71.7 +/- 10.1 min, the male subjects exhibiting a significant lower t1/2 than females. In 5 volunteers with t1/2 within the normal range, the effect of drugs acting on gastric motility was evaluated. Hyoscine N-butyl bromide (20 mg) significantly delayed gastric emptying of solids, whereas metoclopramide (20 mg) was ineffective in these subjects. On the contrary, this drug was able to accelerate gastric emptying only in some patients with abnormally delayed emptying. On the whole, the method is simple, inexpensive and reproducible. It may be of great clinical value to investigate abnormalities of gastric function and to perform a better pharmacological approach to the medical treatment.